Orlando recommendations

rustybin

I've took the plunge and booked. Thanks for all the tips / advice.  Have booked a Hilton hotel just off iDrive as like the idea of being central with good links.

Not decided on car yet but probably won't bother. I like the idea of getting about on the buses and not having the bother of a car. Just my opinion.

Will look at tickets for all the attractions tomorrow.

LV426

When do you go?

I'd definitely have a quick look into using Uber out there....the buses are a little crap. They go around the houses to get you anywhere, there are loads of stops - lots of sitting/standing around - and you may find yourself getting pissed off with them.

Worth a try though and you can always use Uber as a fall-back.

Abbeygoo

Actually from I-drive to Disney is fairly direct, but does (of course) take longer than a car - typically about 60 minutes to the Magic Kingdom car park.

Have a thorough read of this:  Orlando: Bus services in the International Drive area

27neth

Just been looking at car deals now and might be tempted. A decent sized Grand Cherokee Jeep was about £310 for a fortnight. That's not bad. I accept that you have to pay to park at all the theme parks but might be a much better option than the buses everywhere ....... might book it and not tell the wife as a little surprise.

Already booked an airport transfer though ......  should be able to cancel that

Abbeygoo

You only need buses or taxis to Disney from international drive. Universal is a 10 min walk, sea world is on the i-ride route.

John..

Mark F

how much would a taxi be to Disney from iDrive?  We are near the Eye

Abbeygoo

Download the Uber app and you'll be able to get some quotes.  

By the way, Universal definitely isn't walkable from your hotel.  But does your hotel include free bus transfers to the main attractions- many of them do?

LV426

... but if you are to use buses (for Disney) and buy passes to do so then using the trolley is an additional expense that's wholly unnecessary.  Bus route 8 pretty much duplicates the trolley route, is more frequent and runs for longer hours, so just use that (for "free" with a pass) instead.

Car rental - I don't know where you looked or what was included, but I went to my usual go-to online broker and the cheapest Jeep GC came up at £450.  That's with a most-of-the-way insurance package.  More for belt and braces.  And be of no doubt - you DO need to be well insured in the USA, one of the most litigious countries in the world

Call it USD580.  Add say 10 days attraction parking at $20 = $200 and a bit of fuel and you get fairly easily up to $800 or so.

$800 would buy some bus passes ($16 per person per week) and a fair few cab (or Uber) rides, and probably leave a couple of hundred left over for a decent meal or two - or some shopping.  Just for fair comparison.

Abbeygoo

Thanks @LV426 - think some of the sites I've been have given quotes with just third party insurance. Thanks for the advice.

27neth

We used to buy a 2 week I-ride pass and use them to go up and down international drive. We walked to universal after getting the I-ride to the closest stop.
  For Disney we used the hotel transfers and usually a taxi back.
For the shopping malls we just jumped on the bus.

John.